Ukraine and Russia commence peace talks at Belarusian border

Members of the Ukrainian delegation disembark from a helicopter as they arrive for talks with Russian representatives in the Gomel region, Belarus.(Reuters: Sergei Kholodilin/BelTA)

Talks between Ukraine and Russia are now underway on the border of Belarus, according to Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak.

The Ukraine President’s office said its main goals are an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops.

The delegation includes Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak among others.

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, said “as every hour of conflict brings new casualties among Ukrainian soldiers, we are definitely interested in reaching any agreements as soon as possible”.

“But those agreements should be for the benefit of both sides,” he added.

The Kremlin declined to outline Russia’s aims for the talks.

It was not clear whether any progress could be achieved after President Vladimir Putin on Thursday launched the assault and put Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday.

The meeting is taking place at the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Residence in Gomel, Belarus.

Belarus is a strong Russian ally, where a referendum on Sunday approved a new constitution ditching the country’s non-nuclear status at a time when the former Soviet republic has become a launching pad for Russian troops invading Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the European Union on Monday to allow Ukraine to gain membership under a special procedure immediately as it defends itself from invasion by Russian forces.

“Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair. I am sure we deserve it,” he said in a video speech shared on social media.

Fifth day of fighting

The talks come as the war in Europe enters its fifth day.

Blasts were heard before dawn on Monday (local time) in the capital of Kyiv and in the major eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities said.

But Russian ground forces’ attempts to capture major urban centres had been repelled, they added.

Russia’s defence ministry, however, said its forces had taken over the towns of Berdyansk and Enerhodar in Ukraine’s south-eastern Zaporizhzhya region as well as the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Interfax reported. The plant’s operations continued normally, it said.

Ukraine denied reports the nuclear plant had fallen into Russian hands, according to the news agency.

There was fighting around the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol throughout the night, Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional administration, said on television on Monday.

He did not say whether Russian forces had gained or lost any ground or provide any casualty figures.

At least 102 civilians in Ukraine have been killed since Thursday, with a further 304 wounded, but the real figure is feared to be “considerably higher”, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said.

The UN has said more than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded last week.

Mr Zelenskyy also said he will release prisoners who have combat experience from jail to defend the country.

“Under martial law, participants in hostilities — Ukrainians with real combat experience — will be released from custody and will be able to compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots of war,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

“All sanctions are lifted from some people who took part in the anti-terrorist operation. The key now is defence.”

Ukraine is also training people to make firebombs.

Authorities have been handing out weapons to anyone willing to defend the city.

Reuters/AP